1. 1 Helen Wood, Secretariat Director GEO-6 Forward Planning: Decisions and Documents

2. |2|2 Forward Planning for GEO-6 (1) See Overview Document (600-3) 1. Assent to the draft GEO-WMO Standing Arrangement (GEO 604) 2.Assent to draft Secretariat Purpose and Function (GEO 605) 3.Assent to the draft Secretariat Transition Plan (GEO 606)

3. |3|3 Forward Planning for GEO-6 (2) 4.Assent to the draft 2006 Work Plan Development Document (GEO 607) 5.Decision on Executive Committee Options (GEO 608)

4. |4|4 Guidance Needed From GEO-6 1.Long-term funding approaches 2.Science and technical mechanism options (GEO 610) 3.User interface mechanism options (GEO 611)

5. 5 GEO Secretariat GEO–WMO Standing Arrangement (GEO 604-6)

6. |6|6 Purpose and Origin of Standing Arrangement Details arrangements for WMOs hosting of the successor GEO Secretariat GEO-6 is invited to adopt the Resolution at Appendix A, signifying GEOs assent to the Standing Arrangement Formulated following detailed discussions in Geneva between representatives of WMO and the ad hoc GEO Secretariat, as directed by GEO-5

7. |7|7 Sufficient space and services with minimal administrative burden Mechanisms for accountability Sufficient autonomy and independence Co-location with other Earth observation initiatives and related international organizations Goal: Effective Administrative Environment

8. |8|8 Independent decision-making structure Efficient, flexible funding mechanism Recruitment, hiring, and human resource services, including benefits and diplomatic immunities and privileges Administrative support services as defined in a Service-Level Agreement Key Elements Contained in Standing Arrangement

9. 9 GEO Secretariat Secretariat Purpose and Functions (GEO 605-3)

10. |10 Secretariat Purpose Support GEO activities Consist of co-located, well-qualified, professional and administrative staff

11. |11 Secretariat Functions (1) a.Prepare and submit the Annual Work Plan and Budget to GEO Plenary b.Oversee the execution of the Annual Work Plan and expenditure of the Budget c.Provide annual reports on the performance of GEOSS

12. |12 Secretariat Functions (2) d.Organize, prepare, and support meetings e.Seek consensus on and develop plans for joint projects and programmes f.Carry out follow-up activities to secure funds

13. |13 Secretariat Functions (3) g.Oversee the implementation of the GEO communication strategy h.Organize the GEOSS user and other fora as require i.Facilitate overall cooperation and liaison with the Earth observation community

14. |14 Secretariat Functions (4) j.Recommend and report on the execution of the annual Secretariat operating plan k.Facilitate and coordinate the updating of the 10- Year Implementation Plan as directed by the Plenary l.Conduct the day-to-day administrative activities of the Secretariat m.Other duties as assigned by GEO

15. 15 GEO Secretariat Secretariat Transition Plan (GEO 606-3)

16. |16 Secretariat Transition Plan Purpose Details the transition of the ad hoc GEO Secretariat to the successor GEO Secretariat

17. |17 Secretariat Transition Plan: Key Decisions (1) 1.Scope and Timing from March to December 2005 (Section 2) 2.Transition Management by ad hoc GEO Co-Chairs and ad hoc Secretariat (Section 3.1) 3. Finalization of Key Agreements (Section 3.2)

18. |18 Secretariat Transition Plan: Key Decisions (2) 4.Transition Costs and Funding (Section 3.3) 5.Director Recruitment and Placement (Section 3.4) 6.Office Relocation (Section 3.5) 7.Transition Staff Plan (Section 3.6)

19. |19 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Transition Management (1) GEO Co-Chairs, supported by ad hoc Secretariat, manage transition until creation of Executive Committee GEO Co-Chairs authorized to approve Service-Level Agreement for the Transition Period

20. |20 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Transition Management (2) GEO Co-Chairs authorized to recruit and select Director, and approve interim staff including secondments Should the selection process extend beyond GEO-I, the responsibility to select the Director would pass to the newly created Executive Committee (The GEO may actively choose this delay)

21. |21 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Transition Costs Continuity of existing operations in Washington (director, staff, equipment, website hosting, communications, etc.) until Geneva office is established Establishment of new operations in Geneva, including temporary relocation of some Washington office staff Support for interim staff per diems (including Work Plan Manager), and some salaries and new Directors salary in 2005

22. |22 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Required Transition Funding Although much of the contributions will be provided by secondments and other in-kind support, there is an urgent need for financial contributions Call for contributions (financial) from GEO Members and Participating Organizations, totaling USD 1 million

23. |23 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Secured Transition Support US funding continuing for duration of Washington office not to exceed 30 September 2005 Switzerland equipping Geneva office ESA supporting publication of Plan and Reference Document

24. |24 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Director Recruitment Co-Chairs appoint a recruitment panel Call to community for letters of interest Interviews conducted by recruitment panel and Co- Chairs if necessary Director selected WMO Secretary General appoints Director as WMO staff member

25. |25 Secretariat Transition Plan Detail: Required Transition Staff Director of Ad Hoc Secretariat continues until appointment of new Director Administrative staff including an Executive Officer, Transition Coordinator, and two additional support staff Work Plan Development staff of 3-4, including Work Plan Manager as leader, supported by external experts and internal staff

26. 26 GEO Secretariat 2006 Work Plan Development (GEO 607-3)

27. |27 GEOSS Annual Work Plan / WP 2006 Annual WP - Purpose, Scope, Assumptions Presented by (future) Director for approval by GEO II 3 categories of activity GEOSS has responsibility GEOSS and partner organisations have joint responsibility GEOSS has indirect role Starting point is 10 Year GEOSS Implementation Plan Reference Document- with 2, 6, 10 year targets

28. |28 GEOSS Annual Work Plan / Work Plan 2006 2006 Work Plan Submitted in Dec 2005 to GEO Plenary Work Plan development overseen by Work Plan Manager Assumes Director in post in time to guide final stages of Work Plan development Use of seconded experts to support Work Plan Development

29. |29 Work Plan 2006 Proposed Approach Appoint temporary Work Plan Manager and team ASAP WPM supported by 3-4 (full-time) people Definition Group, plus part-time specialists to cover 9 societal benefit areas First draft of WP 2006 by July, second draft by Sep Resources 80 staff-months plus 350-400K USD Requires urgent contributions from Members and International Organisations

30. |30 Work Plan 2006 3 Recommendations 1.Experienced WP Manager is appointed (by 4 Co-Chairs), starting ASAP 2.Small Definition Group is put in place to support WPM, possibly through secondments 3.Minimum funding level of USD 350-400K is secured to cover activities for timely preparation of WP 2006

31. 31 GEO Secretariat Executive Committee Options (GEO 608-3)

32. |32 Executive Committee Options: Overview OBJECTIVE: to suggest a logical approach to addressing the various decisions needed to enable GEO to start functioning immediately with GEO-I SIX DECISION POINTS contained in GEO 608; GEO- 6 is invited to indicate its preferred solution on each point. Future GEO meetings can modify or amplify the arrangements agreed for GEO-I if they prove inadequate

33. |33 Executive Committee Options: Key Decision Sequence (1) i.Confirm Election of Executive Committee to take place at GEO-I (tentative May 2-4) ii.Decide structure, between: a. Co-chairs (existing or otherwise); or b. Chair & Vice Chair(s) (In either case state how many) iii.Decide size, between a. Larger e.g. 10-12 members; or b. Smaller e.g. 4-6 members iv.Representatives of Participating Organizations

34. |34 Executive Committee Options: Key Decision Sequence (2) iv.Agree procedure (a suggested way): A.First step: Co-Chairs/Chair and Vice Chair(s) are chosen (2-Year mandate). B.Second step: Additional Executive Committee members are chosen (2-year mandate).

35. |35 Executive Committee Options: Key Decision Sequence (4) vi.Agree or modify the proposed provisional terms of reference (see text of GEO 608)

36. 36 GEO Secretariat Long-Term Funding

37. |37 GEO Secretariat Long-Term Funding: Funding Scenarios 1.Contribution levels are not suggested; or 2.Contribution levels are suggested, e.g.: A.Flat rate; or B.An indicative scale 3.Other – Contribution Units?

38. |38 GEO Secretariat Long-Term Funding: Initial 2006 Cost Estimate and Activities (1) USD $3.5 million: Staff Salaries and Benefits (7 to 10 staff) 2006 Work Plan Implementation Activities and 2006 Annual Report 2007 Work Plan Development Activities

39. |39 GEO Secretariat Long-Term Funding : Initial 2006 Cost Estimate and Activities (2) Staff Travel and Supported Travel Costs User Fora Science and Technical Advisory Meetings GEO and GEO subsidiary body meetings

40. 40 Implementation Plan Task Team (IPTT) Science and Technical Mechanism Options (GEO 610-3)

41. |41 Users Science and observation: a symbiosis Observations Science Policy Assessment

42. |42 Observation science Data assimilation models –Well developed in weather, nascent in several other fields Optimised observation networks New technology for observation

43. |43 The standing committee model Clear line function and fixed budget Inflexible and unwieldy GEOSS Science committee S/C DisastersS/C HealthS/C WeatherS/C Biodiversity

44. |44 The ad hoc panels model Flexible, minimal and can co-opt existing bodies Complex reporting lines and unpredictable costs GEOSS Director Time Adhoc panel on Disasters Tsunamis Fires Floods Adhoc panel on Health AIDSSARSNew disease Other interested parties

45. |45 The final decision on science structures can wait Accept that a strong and functional link is needed Create what structures are immediately needed with time-bound Terms of Reference Some may become standing bodies later

46. 46 Implementation Plan Task Team (IPTT) User Interface Options (GEO 611-3)

47. |47 User Interface Mechanism Options Reference text from 10-Year Implementation Plan: 4.2 User Involvement –Benefits of GEOSS will be realized by a broad range of user communities –GEO will perform a coordination role to address user requirements –GEO will organize GEOSS User Fora among and within societal benefit areas –Function of User Fora will be to document and review user requirements

48. |48 User Interface Mechanism Options Key Considerations: –Users are essential during formulation of observation requirements for each societal benefit area, as well as cross-cutting areas –Involvement of users must be an integral part of implementation –User requirements should be based on clearly specified needs that are recognized or accepted by user communities

49. |49 User Interface Mechanism Options Possible Options: –A User Interface standing committee –Use of existing organizations and structures –Assign user coordination to a single GEO Secretariat staff person –Assign user coordination to a GEO Secretariat staff person for a particular benefit area –Use of user surveys and other methods of communication with user groups

50. |50 User Interface Mechanism Options Possible Options for user fora format: –Use of focused meetings for each societal benefit area –Use of meetings among several or all societal benefit areas, cross-cutting requirements –GEO Secretariat identifies cross-cutting requirements based on outputs from meetings and user fora

51. |51 User Interface Mechanism Options Recommendation –Mechanisms for user interface should include a combination of the following: Identify existing or new organizations and structures Assign user coordination responsibility to each GEO Secretariat staff person for a societal benefit area Use of user surveys and other communication Use of user fora among and within societal benefit areas Provide feedback opportunities on all GEOSS media Organized by Secretariat as guided by the annual work plan